San Diego News

Protect Yourself from the Heat

San Diego, California - High temperatures coming to the mountain and desert areas of San Diego County have once again prompted the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat warning.

As a result, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is encouraging residents to take adequate precautions to avoid heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. County health officials are also reminding residents to make sure vulnerable populations, like children, older adults and pets, are protected.

The warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 29. Tuesday will be the hottest day with temperatures in the deserts expected to reach 115 degrees.

The County operates the Cool Zones program and has designated more than 115 air-conditioned buildings as cooling centers. Locations and hours of operation can be found on a new interactive map on CoolZones.org, by calling 2-1-1 San Diego or by calling 1-800-510-2020, ext. 6 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sites are identified by a light blue Polar Bear Cool Zone logo.

Elderly people, infants and children, and people with chronic medical conditions are more prone to heat stress. People with elderly neighbors should check on the well-being of the older persons. Pet owners should exercise their pets in early morning hours or late at night to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.

Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler. Do not rely on electric fans for cooling if temperatures exceed 90 degrees.

Drink plenty of water (avoid alcohol and sugary drinks) and don’t wait until you are thirsty

Take cool showers

Never leave a child, elderly person, or pet unattended in a car

Avoid unnecessary hard work or activities outside during the hottest part of the day

Avoid unnecessary sun exposure and wear a wide-brim hat if you need to be in the sun

Avoid using the oven to cook

An extremely high body temperature (103 or higher), dizziness, nausea, confusion, and headache are signs of heatstroke or exhaustion. If someone shows these signs, call 9-1-1 and begin cooling the person by: